Vollering identifies key advantage over yellow jersey Reusser after Tour de France Femmes win
CyclingWednesday, 05 August 2026 at 18:31
Follow IDL Pro Cycling on Google
Stay up to date with the best cycling news by making us a preferred source on Google.
Follow us on GoogleSuccess: Demi Vollering of FDJ-SUEZ
claimed her stage victory in the Tour de France Femmes on Wednesday, immediately increasing the pressure on yellow jersey Marlen Reusser. In the finale, she was left at the front alongside the Swiss Movistar rider and Canyon//SRAM’s Kasia Niewiadoma, before beating both of them to the line. Vollering discussed the victory in her post-stage flash interview.
ADVERTISEMENT
It is rarely wise to describe a stage as perfect, but Vollering’s performance in the medium mountains of the Tour de France Femmes on Wednesday came remarkably close. FDJ-SUEZ were represented at the front, helped lead the chase behind the breakaway and ultimately allowed Vollering to extend her advantage over dropped rivals such as Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Elisa Longo Borghini.
“It was a really amazing race. Every rider on the team played a part, and those are the victories I enjoy most: when everyone has worked so hard for it. That makes it extra special and beautiful, because you genuinely achieve it together,” Vollering began in her flash interview.
“Marie [Le Net] kept me near the front from the start of the day and collected bottles, and later Amber [Kraak], Célia [Géry], Franziska [Koch], Juliette [Berthet] and Évita [Muzic] all contributed,” Vollering said after the finish, listing the work of her teammates. “Everyone played her part today. That only makes the victory even more special.”
Vollering was not certain of victory
Vollering made the decisive selection on Mont Brouilly, after a group of six riders had already moved clear on the penultimate climb. Only Niewiadoma and Reusser were able to follow her. With their interests aligned, the three worked well together until the finish, where the stage came down to a sprint.
“I knew Kasia would go early, because that is what she almost always does. I also knew Marlen would gamble. So I allowed her to gamble for a moment to see whether she would close the gap, but she didn’t. Then I thought: if we do nothing, Kasia is going to win, and I will not even have tried. So I thought: I simply have to go for it, even though Marlen might still come past me.”
Vollering was far from certain that she had timed her effort correctly. “At one point, I thought I wasn’t going to make it, but somehow I managed to hold on. It was a real relief when I crossed the finish line. I gave everything all the way to the line. It was an incredibly long sprint, and I really needed every metre of that finishing straight, but I did it. I’m extremely happy.”
Read more below the video!
Vollering on the Tour de France Femmes GC battle
The victory also allowed Vollering to take more bonus seconds out of her deficit to yellow jersey Reusser, who now leads her by twelve seconds. “She is definitely one of the biggest rivals, and things are looking very good for her. The only advantage I have is that I have already won the Tour, just like Kasia. Marlen has never won it, so she will also have to work hard for it.”
Mont Ventoux awaits on Friday, before two more challenging stages around Nice on Saturday and Sunday. First, however, the riders must negotiate a potentially treacherous transitional stage on Thursday. “It is definitely going to be a hard battle. Marlen is not someone you can simply beat, because she is incredibly strong, but of course I am going to do everything I can.”
Read also
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
IDL-productions
2026 Tour de France Femmes stage 6 preview | One rider’s loss is another’s gain
2026 Vuelta a Burgos | New opportunity for GC contenders on Day 3
2026 Tour de Pologne | After Milan’s hat-trick, the GC battle begins
2026 Vuelta a España | A Spanish playground for Wout van Aert, Tadej Pogačar and Mads Pedersen
Not Vollering but Ferrand-Prévot must now back up Visma’s bold Tour claims
Latest Cycling News
2026 Tour de France Femmes stage 6 preview | One rider’s loss is another’s gain
Tour de France Femmes 2026 | What awaits Vollering and the others besides Mont Ventoux?
Cycling transfers 2026/2027 | Every confirmed move so far
Kasia Niewiadoma credits Dutch coach as Tour de France Femmes form clicks into place
Visma used Femke de Vries to put Demi Vollering under pressure: ‘We wanted her to panic’
Popular Cycling News
Tour de France Femmes 2026 | What awaits Vollering and the others besides Mont Ventoux?
Kim Le Court questions Vollering and rivals after Ferrand-Prévot is dropped: ‘They must trust their time trial’
FDJ-SUEZ provides update after Demi Vollering crashes at Tour de France Femmes
Lance Armstrong on Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s time-trial position: ‘Painful to watch’
Tadej Pogačar hits the gravel as Vuelta a España preparation begins
Latest Comments
- I appreciate the need for rigorous drug testing, especially given the sports' abusive and extensive history with banned substances. But, and allowing for the fact that I'm not knowledgable about sophisticated drug use and masking, and how illegal substances might be employed, and mindful of the statement that publicly testing cycling's two greatest stars sends the loudest possible message to team directors, sponsors, and riders, I'm not convinced that it was necessary, or fair, to wake Jonas at 2AM, while allowing three extra hours of sleep to Tadej, and no testing at all for their closest competitors during cycling's most important race. If such testing is thoiught to be necessary, than administer the tests to ALL top competitors, at the same exact time, and that time should be around 5AM, not 2AM. Testing is important, but not more so than the health and safety of the riders.rjb03-08-2026
- Winng by Losing, Pogi gives back while paying it forward.. Chapeau!rjb02-08-2026
- I suggest that the contract discussions have been put off not because Del Toro and his representitives expect UAE to sign Seixas, which I consider highly unlikely, but rather because he and his reps don't want to set a ceiling on a new contract until they see the size and length of Seixas' deal. That, or so it seems to me, is the actual reason for Del Toro putting off talks on an extension. Because the idea that Seixas would sign with a team that already has three young world-class GC contenders, including the G.O.A.T., seems far-fetched, if not completely ludicrous.rjb31-07-2026
- No disrespect toward Jonas, but his problem, vis-a-vis Tadej, may not be solvable. Tadej didn't only excell in explosiveness, he also demolished Jonas on a crucial descent. And, lest we forget, Pogi didn't have any trouble winning both the Giro and the Tour last year. Moreover, his explanation regarding poor planning by the Visma team, also strikes me as questionable, given all the experience and expertise in the Visma group. Again, no disrespect toward Jonas, a valid champion and a fine human being.rjb31-07-2026
- The headline mentions a 'menstruation debate,' but the article doesn't mention the debate or even what the issue is. The writer and the editor need to do better.rjb29-07-2026
- - Vamos Tadej! Poetry on wheels. C’est magnifique, bravo campione!robert6528-07-2026
- - Merckx saying no competition feels off—what about Vingegaard in full form, and Roglic on the Giro/Vuelta blocks? There’s competition, just inconsistent due to crashes and form peaks. Still, Tadej is the most versatile since Indurain.breakawaybikerd28-07-2026
- - So Pogacar has five Tours already, but why is that a bigger deal than, say, winning the World Championships? Are the Grand Tours ranked differently?samanthak28-07-2026
- - Brilliant piece. You captured how he meters effort on long climbs and still rips everyone off the wheel. Also love the nod to Tour de l’Avenir—people forget how early he was bossing stages.tourdeforce928-07-2026
- - Slightly sceptical about the “win all three Grand Tours in one season” bit. The calendar density and recovery windows are still brutal, even with modern prep. Would love it, but sounds a tad romantic from Eddy.andrewf28-07-2026
Loading
